by 
One of the major obstacles to After Capitalism is stalemate. We are going to need to make some challenging decisions, but we currently are just stuck. A few weeks ago, we looked at how the framing of “fairness” presents an obstacle. Today we look at the framing of bias.
In short, concern about bias is becoming ubiquitous. We are looking for and finding it everywhere. Decisions must be double- and triple-checked for bias. Any decision needs multiple sets of eyes on it lest some bias slip in. There is a suggestion that bias is lurking everywhere and must be rooted out. Too bad. It is a useful concept that is being applied over-zealously.
Bias is essentially unfair prejudice. Wisdom is experience, knowledge, and good judgment. I feel that we are increasingly confusing the two. Wisdom is being seen as bias. Anti-intellectualism is always an undercurrent running through a society. Sprinkle in a little populism, wisdom of the crowds, and the mean green meme, and you’ve got a recipe for making decision-making excruciating. Simple decisions are dragged out interminably and sometimes cannot be made.
I think a key piece of this is the growing support for relying on algorithm, data, and analytics for decision-making. Because we don’t trust ourselves, we rely on machine logic, which is seen as neutral, unbiased and fair (though that is questionable). My own view is that we should indeed use data to help us decide – not abdicate our decision-making responsibilities. Or, as I’ve put, don’t be a meatbot.
The key for dealing with bias is self-awareness. Knowing ourselves and our tendencies. Surely we want to remove our unfair prejudices, but we don’t want to lose our wisdom in the process. A balanced approach to bias is one way we can break the stalemate and get moving to an After Capitalism future. – Andy Hines
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